Only two out of three trains will run this Christmas weekend because of a strike by controllers, according to initial estimates from the SNCF management on Tuesday. In detail, on Friday, two out of three TGVs should run on the Atlantic and Mediterranean axes, and one in two trains on the North axis. The Paris-Lille shuttle will however be almost normal. Three TGV Est out of four will run. Three Ouigo out of four should also circulate. The Intercités should have normal traffic conditions.
Notified by SMS and emails
The details for Saturday and Sunday have not yet been communicated, but the scenario will be almost the same as Friday, “with a slightly degraded scenario”, announced Alain Krakovitch, director of TGV-Intercités. “I can understand that there are demands, but for the Christmas holidays… this is not the time”, launched during a press conference Christophe Fanichet, CEO of SNCF Voyageurs.
Around 200,000 people should not be able to travel, out of 800,000 scheduled on trains this weekend. Customers will receive information about their train via SMS and email. They are encouraged to advance their departure if possible, and can exchange their tickets for free or get a refund.